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Hymns As Poetry In Worship

The most common use of poetry in worship is the singing of poems as hymns. Despite their common use, however, hymn texts are rarely thought of in terms of their poetic qualities. Yet hymn writers are among the finest wordsmiths the church has known. Appreciating their art enriches the experience of all who sing.

Hymns are usually seen as low art and sub-zero theology. Theologians file them under "music. " Literature departments file them nowhere. C. S. Lewis detested them. John Ruskin...

 

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